His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the Monterrey International Event and meets with the President of Mexico

September 10th 2011

Mexico City, Mexico, 9 September 2011 - This morning,
before leaving the hotel to address the Third International Conference
of Human Values and Rule of Law at the auditorium Banamex (Fundidora),
His Holiness met briefly with a fellow Nobel Laureate Shirin Ibadi of
Iran at the hotel.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
Shirin Ebadi greet the audience during the Third World Meeting of Human
Values and Culture of Lawfulness at the Banamex auditorium in Monterrey,
Mexico, on September 9, 2011. Photo/Reuters

Thereafter, His Holiness accompanied by Ms. Shirin
Ibadi left for the auditorium, where they were given a very emotional
welcome by the members of the Casa Tibet Monterrey and also received by
Mr. Javier Benitez Gomez and Mrs. Cristina Gonzalez Paras, conveners of
the events in Monterrey.

Before addressing the conference on ‘Building
Harmony Through Altruism and Compassion’, His Holiness briefly met with
the members of the State of Nuevo Leon’s Religious Council and several
dignitaries of the State.

In his address, His Holiness highlighted the peace as a basis of
happiness. His Holiness said that often we give so much importance to
the secondary things and neglect the fundamental thing which is human
warm heartedness. As such, despite so much material development and
possession, deep inside, His Holiness said, many people, including very
wealthy people are feeling loneliness.

His Holiness then added that because of the importance of inner values,
now even scientists are showing some interest on the issue. In this
regard, he said, since the Buddhists have more information about the
inner world, therefore, more scientists are showing interest to learn
about the Buddhists perspective of understanding the mind. His Holiness
went on to add that in the United States, several universities have
been conducting serious research for the past 10 years on emotions and
the research findings shows that negative emotions eat our immune system
and positive emotions make us more peaceful and happy.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama
speaking at the third World Meeting of Human Values and Culture of
Lawfulness in Monterrey, Mexico, on September 9, 2011. Photo/Rolando
Zenteno/
Casa Tibet Monterrey

Even looking at the global economic crisis,
His Holiness said some of his business friends and others who are
advisors to the multinational corporations told him that the current
economic crisis was partly result of greed. Looking at this, His
Holiness said, it is quite clear that the current global economic crisis
is also made by our own mind. Similarly, looking at the ecological
crisis, he said, it is partly because of lack of holistic view and too
much short sighted approaches. His Holiness also highlighted the problem
of corruptions in different countries including Mexico, which he said
is because of lack of moral and ethics.

While commenting on the drug related violence on the northern borders of
Mexico, His Holiness said those who consume drugs as well as others who
become alcoholic show that something is lacking or missing inside among
these people, which he said may be because of education and
upbringing. Keeping these things in mind, His Holiness said, it is
important to pay more attention to altruism and inner values.

After the conclusion of his address at the Monterrey event, His
Holiness attended a brief press meet before he flew to Mexico City by a
private plane.

In Mexico City, as soon as he arrived at the airport, His Holiness
left straight to the Los Pinos, the Presidential Palace of Mexico, where
he met with President Felipe Calderon and the First Lady Margarita
Zavala de Calderón. His Holiness spent around 45 minutes with President
Calderon. His Holiness was accompanied at the meeting by Mr. Chimme R
Chhoekypa, Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr. Lobsang
Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas,
and Mr. Tsewang Phuntso, CTA’s Liaison Officer to Latin America, and Mr.
Marco Antonio Karam, President of Casa Tibet Mexico.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets with members of the press in Mexico City on September 9, 2011. Photo/Yeonsuk Ka

After meeting with President Calderon, His
Holiness left for Hotel Marquis Reforma, where he attended a press meet
for 45 minutes and the press meet was attended by more than 400 media
people.

Immediately after the press meet, His Holiness returned to his room,
where he met with former President of Mexico, Mr. Vicente Fox, former
First Lady Marta Sahagún de Fox, and their whole family members. Former
First Lady Marta Sahagún de Fox met with His Holiness several times in
the past both in Mexico and New York. President Vicente Fox has
formally offered an invitation for His Holiness to visit his home state
of Guanajuato and the Vicente Fox Center of Studies, Library and Museum
some time next year. His Holiness agreed to return once again to Mexico
and visit Guanajuato Sate.

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